A politicized biased report

 Attached is my comment to the Armenian Weekly regarding the article that claimed for a headline that « Pashinyan discourages diaspora Armenians from becoming citizens of Armenia» (September 15, 2026) Vaհe H Apelian

 Both of us, my wife and I entered the U.S. at different times and we held on to our green cards for five years before applying for U.S. citizenship. I checked the internet. The 5-year rule appears to be in place towards U.S. citizenship. 

According to this report, that period is 3 years towards the Armenian citizenship, that will grant the person the privilege to vote, that is all. The 5-year for U.S., and the 3-year of lawful residency requirement are reasonable periods for the person to get to know and have a semblance of acculturation of the country they intend to make theirs.  None of us, and friends who were in the same predicament - and there were many of us, - complained because we were in a hurry to vote. Getting by in the new land, is what preoccupied us.

 This report is biased and not properly and appropriately worded. It avoids the rampant abuse of Armenian citizenship when getting Armenian passport for Diaspora Armenians had no strings attached to it. During those early years, many made Armenia a stepping stone on their way to other destinations they could not enter with their passports but entered with the Armenian passport they got.  Many other Diaspora Armenians had their children hold on to their citizenship and passports until a certain age, then appliedd for Armenian citizenship to avoid military service.  

Authenticating birthright as Armenian and getting Armenian citizenship was long due for an overhaul. 

P.S. I have not applied for Armenian citizenship. I have no intention to become a citizen of Armenia although it is my birthright. Attached is my record for my birthright Armenian citizenship thanks to George Aghjayan unearthing my baptismal registration in Lebanon, I presented to the Eastern Prelacy. I have now my official baptismal and birthright Armenia record signed by his Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian. It reads: “We hereby attest that Vahe Apelian, son of Hovhannes Apelian and Zvart Chelebian, was born on July 1, 1946 in Beirut Lebanon and is Armenian by birthright.

Vahe Apelian was baptized according to the rites of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church by Der Housing Kahana Ayanian, having Hratch Tourigian as his baptismal godfather.”

Opting to become a citizen of Armenia is serious commitment and the Armenian authorities need to scrutinize and assure of the intent of the applicant who claims birthright for Armenian citizenship.